Ben Downing to Lead Massachusetts Clean Energy Center
Downing is the current Chief Growth Officer at MIT’s The Engine, previously served as Senate chair of energy committee
"Massachusetts is home to some of the world’s leading climatetech companies, and many of their successes can be attributed to Ben Downing’s visionary leadership in the Legislature and the support he has spearheaded for startups at The Engine,” said Governor Maura Healey. “Our administration is deeply committed to growing our innovation economy. With strong support authorized under the Mass Leads Act, Ben will steer our climatetech industry and over 162,000 climatetech workers to its next chapter.”
“Today, Massachusetts’ climatetech and clean energy industry has deep roots in communities across the state,” said Lieutenant Governor Kim Driscoll. “It’s unionized offshore wind workers on the South Coast, battery manufacturers in the Merrimack Valley, HVAC and solar installers throughout the state, and so much more. I know Ben will be looking out for those who will be building the solutions to climate change and lower energy bills in our communities.”
“I am thrilled to join MassCEC to lead this next, critical chapter and grateful to the Board, Governor Healey, Lieutenant Governor Driscoll, and Secretary Tepper for the opportunity,” said Downing. “My experience has taught me that Massachusetts can be the place where the solutions to climate change are invented, built, and deployed. Doing so affordably requires activating all of the state’s resources. I’m excited to help MassCEC do just that with our partners in the Healey Administration, the Legislature, the clean energy and climatetech sectors and more. Let’s get to work.”
“Ben impressed me with a bold vision with tangible next steps for MassCEC,” said Energy and Environmental Affairs Secretary Rebecca Tepper, who chairs the MassCEC board. “Ben has deep knowledge of our offshore wind industry and port communities, personal relationships with our climatetech companies, and, as a Berkshire County native, a commitment to advancing economic growth statewide. I also want to thank Dr. Jennifer Le Blond for her steady leadership as we made this transition. I’m glad she will continue to be an important part of the MassCEC team leading work with Massachusetts climatetech startup companies.”
Downing is the Chief Growth Officer at The Engine, working hands on with climatetech and biotech startups. In that capacity, he supported, advised, and worked with some of the most promising and impactful teams from Commonwealth Fusion Systems, Form Energy, VEIR, Sublime Systems, Lydian Labs, Atlantic Quantum, Vaxess, Foundation Alloy, Cellino Bio, Robigo, and many more. He helped them secure hundreds of millions in federal awards, build significant connections, and make significant investments across Massachusetts.
Prior to this role, he was Vice President of New Market Development for Nexamp, a clean energy company focused on community solar and lowering customer utility bills. Downing led strategic expansion working nationally with a specific focus in Midwest and Mid-Atlantic. Beginning in 2007, Downing served as State Senator representing his home district in the Berkshires. As the Senate Chair of the Joint Telecommunications, Utilities, and Energy Committee, he helped shape Massachusetts’ clean energy and climatetech policy, including authorizing the first offshore wind procurement, investments in the New Bedford Marine Commerce Terminal, support for workforce development, and energy affordability initiatives to rein in costs. He committed to term limits and departed the Legislature in 2017. He was a candidate for Governor in 2022. Downing lives in East Boston with his wife and two sons.
“Ben brings a rare combination of policy experience, hands-on startup leadership, and deep relationships across the climatetech ecosystem,” said Economic Development Secretary Eric Paley. “At a time of growing global competition in climatetech, Ben is the right leader to help MassCEC strengthen our innovation pipeline, support companies as they scale, and ensure this industry continues to deliver economic growth across Massachusetts.”
“It’s been a pleasure to lead the agency during this transition period, and I’m looking forward to continuing to work with Ben in his new role,” said MassCEC Interim CEO Dr. Jennifer Le Blond. “Massachusetts’s climatetech industry continues to expand. MassCEC staff work hard every day to make Massachusetts the state where climatetech companies stay and grow.”
Downing’s tenure will begin in April 2026. He will take over for Dr. Jennifer Le Blond, who has served as interim CEO since November 2025. Le Blond will return to her role leading the Emerging Climatetech Team at MassCEC.
Statements of Support:
Alicia Barton, CEO, Vineyard Offshore:
“I’m thrilled to see Ben Downing take the helm of MassCEC at this critical moment for Massachusetts’ energy future. Ben has already made a transformational impact on the Massachusetts economy by helping craft the legislation that launched the offshore wind and climatetech industries. Ben understands that rapidly deploying clean energy is the best way to ensure that energy stays affordable and reliable, and I know he will chase every opportunity to drive economic growth in every corner of the state.”
Zaid Ashai, CEO, Nexamp:
“I’ve had the privilege of working alongside Ben Downing and seeing his leadership firsthand. As a Massachusetts-based clean energy company, Nexamp has experienced the impact of strong public-private partnership in building this industry, and Ben has been a meaningful part of that progress. He understands how to connect smart policy with real economic growth, job creation, and clean energy deployment. His deep commitment to affordability and access, combined with his experience in both industry and public service, makes him exceptionally well-suited to lead MassCEC. We look forward to partnering with Ben and his team to continue strengthening Massachusetts’ position as a national clean energy leader.”
Emily Knight, CEO & President, The Engine:
"Ben has been an extraordinary leader at The Engine for the past four years, helping Tough Tech startups move from prototype to pilot to production across Massachusetts, particularly in the energy and climate sectors, from fusion to sustainable fuels. He understands firsthand the challenges of scaling breakthrough technologies and how critical early public-private partnerships are to de-risking first-of-a-kind deployments. His leadership at MassCEC will help provide founders across the Commonwealth with a partner who knows how to connect startups, industry, national labs, and state agencies to support transformative companies building and scaling here in Massachusetts. We are deeply grateful for his contributions to The Engine and look forward to continuing to work closely together to support the next generation of Tough Tech companies."
Dan Goldman, Managing Partner, Clean Energy Ventures:
“Congratulations to Ben Downing on his appointment as President of MassCEC. We commend Governor Healey on this appointment and for her continued leadership in strengthening Massachusetts’ clean energy economy. At Clean Energy Ventures, we’ve valued MassCEC as both a thought partner and a co-investor in scaling promising climate technologies, and we look forward to working with Ben, who brings extensive policy, finance and market perspectives on this industry, to support the next generation of innovators across the Commonwealth.”
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